Auto Talk

File photo: Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, speaks with media at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit Michigan, Monday, January 14, 2013. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)

Chrysler Group says it will unveil its second quarter financial results next Tuesday.

In the second quarter of 2012, the automaker earned net income of $436 million US, compared with a $370 million loss for the same quarter the previous year.

In the first quarter of this year, Chrysler posted net income of $166 million versus $473 million a year ago. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne called the disappointing results a “one-off event,” adding that the carmaker would recover as the year progressed. Chrysler needs “to clean up our act and move on from here. We’ll certainly get better as we go through 2013,” he said.

Fiat working on rear-wheel-drive Alfa

Fiat and Chrysler engineers are working on a rear- and all-wheel-drive platform for Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Dodge cars, according to Automotive News.

The platform would help Alfa Romeo compete better with German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which offer rear-wheel-drive cars favoured by many driving enthusiasts. Currently, Alfa does not sell any rear-wheel-drive models, said the report posted on autonews.com.

The platform would underpin the Alfa Romeo Giulia mid-sized sedan and a new Alfa flagship sedan, two people with knowledge of the matter told Automotive News Europe. It would also be used for the replacements for the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger large sedans, as well as the future Dodge Challenger coupe, the sources said.

The project is still a feasibility study, but it could generate the first production models by the end of 2015. The Charger and Chrysler 300 are assembled at the automaker’s plant in Brampton.

Classic car show part of U of Windsor 50th

The University of Windsor will host a classic car show Sept. 21 during the school’s 50th anniversary celebration weekend.

The event is designed to “pay tribute to Windsor’s automotive heritage and take a look at what the future holds with a tour through the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation, ” the university said in a statement.

Awards for Best in Show and the People’s Choice will be presented in following categories: Prewar –1949; 1950s; 1960s-70s; 1980s-90s; and 2000s-plus.

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The Jesus flag is not welcome at city hall. Councillors agreed Monday night with a report from city administration to deny a request to fly a flag in support of the annual March for Jesus scheduled for Aug. 22.